It was the second time the former sheriff had faced the misdemeanor charges. He was convicted after a trial in 2008, but those convictions were thrown out after state Appellate Court judges found problems in the grand jury proceeding.
Waterloo, NY -- A Seneca County trial jury needed just 90 minutes Thursday evening to find former county Sheriff Leo T. Connolly innocent of two misdemeanor charges of official misconduct.
It was the second time the former sheriff had faced the misdemeanor charges. He was convicted after a trial in 2008, but those convictions were thrown out after state Appellate Court judges found problems in the grand jury proceeding.
“I couldn’t be happier for Leo,” said Rochester lawyer Robert Napier, who represented Connolly at his original trial in 2008 and at the re-trial. “He’s a great guy. He put together such a great career then was forced to undergo two trials and an appeal ultimately leading to an acquittal on all charges.”
Ontario County District Attorney R. Michael Tantillo, who served as special prosecutor for the case, said there are no further charges pending in the case against Connolly.
“Obviously, there were several problems with the case, not the least of which the key witness in the case was Jim Larson, the former undersheriff who is completely discredited because of his own crimes,” Tantillo said.
Tantillo said that while Connolly was acquitted ultimately of the charges, the investigation resulted in Larson pleading guilty in 2008 to criminal possession of stolen property, criminal mischief and petit larceny. He served about four months of a 21-month sentence before being freed.
The charges against Connolly in his re-trial accused him of directing Larson to retaliate against people who posted comments critical of Connolly and the department on an online forum maintained by fingerlakes1.com.
The former sheriff, who did not seek re-election in 2007, was originally charged with three felonies and four misdemeanors. One of the felonies was dismissed prior to trial in August 2008, and Connolly was acquitted of all but two misdemeanors at the trial.
Two months later, he was sentenced to two one-year jail terms, to be served consecutively, but the sentence was stayed while he appealed the convictions.
State appellate judges in Rochester tossed out the original convictions in June 2009, but they allowed Tantillo to present the misdemeanor charges to a new grand jury, which re-indicted Connolly.
The re-trial began with jury selection Aug. 5. Opening arguments were delivered Monday, and the jury started deliberations about 5 p.m. Thursday. The verdict was delivered about 6:30 p.m.
Reach John Stith at jstith@syracuse.com or 251-5718.